Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir feels that Rohit Sharma has to wait for his Test opportunity.
The no.2-ranked ODI batsman Rohit Sharma is currently in the outstanding batting form in limited-overs cricket. In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Rohit finished as the leading run-scorer where he scored 648 runs in nine innings with an average of 81.00.
However, the limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma hasn’t performed consistently in Test cricket yet. His records against the top-ranked Test sides are not so impressive. So, the 32-year-old hasn’t earned the stable spot in the Test cricket yet.
But due to his recent form in limited-overs cricket, many thought that Rohit would earn a Test opportunity in the ongoing Test series against the host side Windies. However, the Indian team played the first Test of this series at Antigua without Rohit Sharma.
As the Antigua Test squad was hit, Gautam Gambhir feels that Rohit has to wait for his next Test opportunity.
Gambhir told PTI, “He (Rohit) has got to wait for his opportunity. There is Rahane, who has done well now and Vihari too. So he has to wait and when gets that opportunity, he needs to perform”
Ajinkya Rahane won the Player of the Match award in the Antigua Test. Coming to bat at 25/3 in the first innings, Rahane scored 81 runs. Later in the second innings, Rahane scored 102 runs that took the visiting side into the strong position in that game.
Meanwhile, Hanuma Vihari also played two powerful knocks in the Antigua Test. The right-handed middle-order batsman scored 32 and 93 runs in that Test match.
I am not at all surprised with Ajinkya Rahane’s performance – Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir wasn’t surprised on the Test vice-captain Rahane’s batting performances in the Antigua Test. The former Indian opener believes that it was a much-needed performance for Rahane.
Gambhir said, “I am not at all surprised (with Rahane’s performance) but it was a much needed performance, both from individual and team’s point of view. And when it comes in a winning cause, it doesn’t get better than that.”
The Indian pacers dominated in the Antigua Test. After Ishant Sharma (5/43) managed a fifer in the first innings, Jasprit Bumrah (5/7) destroyed the Windies batting line-up in the second innings. Finally, India won that Test by 318 runs, which was also their largest Test victory (by runs) in away.